20 rebounds per game? Mintz says no one’s laughing at Tshiebwe now.
Watching Oscar Tshiebwe equal a Rupp Arena record for rebounding Friday night inspired John Calipari. The Kentucky coach suggested the letter “R” be posted each time Tshiebwe grabs a rebound.
“So he can look up and count,” Calipari said before adding in Tshiebwe’s voice, “‘I’m going to get five more.’ He’ll get them.”
Tshiebwe, who stated a desire to average 20 rebounds per game this season, might have underestimated a standard he could set.
The transfer from West Virginia’s 20 rebounds matched the Rupp Arena record shared by two UK players, Chris Mills against Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 17, 1988, and Jared Prickett against Arkansas on Feb. 9, 1994.
It helped UK rebound, so to speak, from Tuesday’s loss to Duke and rout Robert Morris 100-60.
Tshiebwe liked the idea of posting Rs. Although he might not need the reminder. He knew he needed one more for 20 and asked to re-enter the game in the final minutes.
“My strength coach told me, ‘I bet you they’re going to put three people on you, so I don’t think you’re going to get more than 12 rebounds tomorrow,’” Tshiebwe said. “I said, ‘I don’t care who they put on me. But they have to work harder because I’m not letting anybody box me out.”
It was during the preseason that Tshiebwe shared his lofty goal.
“We all laughed,” teammate Davion Mintz said. “Like, c’mon man. Twenty rebounds?
“Now, it’s normal. We’re expecting him to get 20.”
Mintz said he challenged Tshiebwe to grab six rebounds in the first two minutes. Tshiebwe grabbed UK’s first five rebounds.
Tshiebwe has grabbed 20 rebounds in each of UK’s first two games.
Robert Morris Coach Andrew Toole recalled reading that Tshiebwe also wanted to average double-digit offensive rebounds. He had 10 against the Colonials and 12 against Duke.
“So, he’s a man of his word,” Toole said.
When asked if an average of 20 rebounds was realistic, Toole said, “20 is a lot. … If he was around 15, that wouldn’t surprise me in any shape or form.”
Tshiebwe’s play typified how Kentucky met the goal of maintaining the intensity shown in the opening-game loss to Duke.
UK also met the goal of shooting more free throws, but not by a lot. The Cats made eight of 12.
Kentucky shot well from three-point range, making 12 of 23.
Kellan Grady and Mintz led the way making four each. Grady led UK in scoring with 19 points. Mintz added 13.
The combination of outside shooting and Tshiebwe’s inside presence overwhelmed Robert Morris.
“It just puts too much pressure on your defense and offense, to be honest, to find any kind of success,” Toole said.
The combination also allowed Kentucky to reach the century mark in points for the first time since beating Illinois Chicago 107-73 on Nov. 26, 2017.
Against a Robert Morris team playing its second game in three days (with travel from Orlando to Lexington in between), Kentucky never trailed. The game was tied for only the first 17 seconds. UK led by double-digits for the final 26:06 and all but 20 seconds of the final 30 minutes.
Tshiebwe grabbed his 10th rebound with 15:37 left. By the second TV time, he had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Kentucky led 68-44.
Of course, Kentucky wants more from Tshiebwe than rebounds. Not for the first time, Calipari spoke of the need to establish Tshiebwe as a low-post scorer.
“If we’re going to be legitimate, we’ve got to be able to do that,” the UK coach said. “We’re not making 12 threes every game. There are going to be some games we make three or four.”
UK hasn’t established a low-post scheme for Tshiebwe, said Calipari, adding that the big man must learn to be more decisive in his post moves and dunk lob passes rather than catch and try to maneuver for a score.
Unlike many “bigs,” Tshiebwe said he did not have an aversion to playing with his back to the basket.
“We are not in the NBA yet,” he said when asked about how “bigs” complain that pro centers do not post up. “We’ve got to play college basketball. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Another memorable Tshiebwe play was not flattering. He shot an airball on a wide-open 15-footer.
Tshiebwe attributed the airball to his previous experience playing for West Virginia. WVU Coach Bob Huggins did not encourage him to shoot from outside the basket area, Tshiebwe said.
“Every time I shot the ball, I was afraid I would be taken out,” he said. “I put that thing in my mind. … If I shoot, I have that scary thought in my mind. I’ve got to let that go. I have to clear my mind. (Calipari) wants me to shoot the ball.”
Next game
Mount St. Mary’s at No. 10 Kentucky
What: The Kentucky Classic
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
TV: SEC Network
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 12:02 AM.
